Switch



April 12, 1932.

H. E. NORVIEL SWITCH Filed April 28, 1930 V HARRY E.:

Patented Apr. 12, 1932 swrrcn Application filed April as,

Thisinvention relates to electric, switches and has particular referenceto the key controlled type in which the circuit closing means ismaintained against unauthorized actuation.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a switch of efficientand simple construction.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a switch structurenormally insured against unauthorized actuation. A further object of theinvention is to provide a-switch wherein the circuit completing,

. tially as indicated by the line and arrows V and .inthis direction ofthe arrows 4-4 of 2 f Fig.1. I

I Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the switch device substantiallyas'indicated by the line and arrows 3-3 of Fig. 2.

' Fig. '4 is a sectional View along the line supporting a key cylinderor other contact actuator mechanism 21, that may be operated by aconvenient and proper key 22, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and4. -The-frame20 is generally cylindrical in formation and has a threaded portion tocooperate with a clamping nut 26 so that the switch device may besecured toan instrument panel, dash or other convenient portion 27 ofvehicle structure. The lock switch isretained in place by 1930.. SerialNo. 447,949.

PATENT o FIcE NORVIEL,-OF1ANDERSON, INDTANA, 'ASSIGNOR TO DELCO-REMY'CORPORA TION, OEANDERSON, INDIANA,,A"CORPORATION OF DELAWARE runningonthe clamping nut 26. .At one or more points the frame 20 isprovided withflats 30 which cooperate to provide a nonrotating relation with the dashmember or sup port 27..

It will be observed that the key cylinder 21 is kept in an axial bore ofthe lock frame, and is retained therein in any convenient or desirablemanner well known to thoseskilled in the art. Since the instantinvention does not reside in maintaining the key cylinder 21 within theframe 20, further description thereof is not herein supplied. The axialfurther enlarged at 37 to provide mating engagement with a dielectricmember later to be described. At preferred points about the frame 20 theinnerend thereof is notched as at 38, which notches extend substantiallythe depth'of the enlargement 37. This notching. P

providesa terminating end of the frame 20 with circumferentially spacedarc like tongues 39 and 40, that operate to maintain nonrotativeengagement with a switch back, the description of which will soonfollow. The'inner end of the key cylinder 21, in many respects, is muchlike the corresponding end of the frame 20, infthat itis centrallyrecessed at 45, which recess is enlarged at 46,

and the terminating end thereof is notched at 47 and 48 throughout" the.depth of the en'- largement 46 to provide the arc liketongues 49 and.50. When the parts 20 and 21 are properly assembled,'as illustratedinFigs. 2'

and 4, an annular 'orring like chamber is then formed by the enlargement36 about the dove-tailed end of the key cylinder 21, and makes provisionfor reception of a driving mechanism that has interfitting engagementwiththe tongues 49 and 50 of the key der 21.

For closing the end of the frame 20, there is provided a dielectricmember 55 or switch. back, as it maybe termed, that carries a pair ofterminal members .56 and 57 The .mem-

cylin ber 55 is cup-like in form, in that it has an axially extendingflange or rim 58 on the inner face thereof, providing a contactenclosure or chamber 59. The inner face of the switch back providesdetent recesses 60 and 61 that are arranged in a concentric row withrespect to the inner ends of the terminal members 56 and 57, formingfixed contacts 62 and 63 respectively. At preferred regions about therim 58 of the member 55, arc-like notches 65 and 66 are provided toreceive the tongues or tenons 39 and of the frame 20. This forms a rimto rim inter-fitting engagement therewith and maintains the switch backin nonrotative relation with respect to the frame 20.

Nicely fitting within the recess 59 formed by the flange 58 of theswitch back, a dielectric contact supporting member 70 is provided, thathas recesses 71 and 72 for driving reception of axially extendingtongues 73 and 74 of a bridging contact member 75. The contact 75 isformed to provide spherical portions 76 adapted to ride over the switchback and optionally engage the detent recesses 60 and 61 or the fixedcontacts 62 and 63. The contact supporting member 70 is of a size nicelyfitting within the bore 59 of the switch back and when disposed thereinwith its contact member in place, operates with the switch back to forma closure for the chamber 59, within which are housed the circuitcomplet ing elements. Thus, the contact making-andbreaking members arewholly surrounded by dielectric members, since the fixed contacts 62 and63 with a bridging contact member 75 are the only metallic or conductingelements exposed within the said chamber.

The opposite side of the contact supporting member 70 provides arc-likeflanges 81 and 82 circumferentially spaced by notches 83 and 84 asillustrated in Fig. 5. This makes provision for a dove-tail likeengagement with the driving tongues 49 and of the key cylinder 21. Itwill be observed from the illustration in Fig. 5, that the contactsupport 70 is substantially cupped in form, with portions of the sidewalls removed affording the notches 83 and 84, and that the bottom 85thereof provides a seat against which a contact urging spring 86 may beplaced. When assembled, the other end of the spring seats against thekey cylinder 21 at the bottom of the bore 45.

It will be observed from the description that has gone before, that theframe 20 and switch back afford a mortise and tenon like engagement dueto the tongues 39 and 40 having interfitting relation with the notchesand 66. Thus, a structure of smooth cylindrical and continuous contouris formed when the frame 20 is fitted with the switch back 55. Aprotective shell 90 that nicely its about the structure is provided andhas a plurality of tangs or bendable tongues at either end thereof. Atone end of the shell 90, tangs 91 and 92 are struck radially inward intorecesses 93 and 91 that may have a convenient location in the flats 30.This operates to retain the shell 90 about the frame 20, and rendersaccess to the interior of the switch mechanism relatively inconvenient,since the tongues 91 and 92 cannot be easily removed or pried out fromthe said recesses. The shell 90 is sufficiently extensive to embrace theWhole of the rear portion of the frame 20 and the switch back 55, andhas the tangs 95 and 96 bent against the rear face of the switch back 55to aid in maintaining it in assembled relation with the frame 20. Sincethe frame 90 is of hardened material the tongues 91, 92, 95 and 96 arenot easily bent out of engagement from their cooperating position, thusrecluding unauthorized access to the interior of the switch structure.

In assemblin the switch it will be found convenient to rst provide theframe and the protective shell in their assembled form with the tangs 95and 96 bent outwardly. The switch back 55 carrying the contact supportwith its bridging contact interposed therebetween, is then arranged toreceive the spring 86 against the head of the member 70. Note at thispoint that the switch back 55 with its assembled contact actuatingmember 70 substantially encloses the circuit interrupting means within achamber of dielectric material, and that manipulation of the contactingelements may be had by rotating the member 70 within the flange 58. I Bymeans of the key 22, the key cylinder is manipulated so that the severaltongues of the frame and key cylinder will be oriented to a position inmating engagement with the respective notches of the switch back andcontact support, and the frame 20 with its protective shell is thenpassed over the switch back and assembled contact actuator, until thetongues 39 and 40 are seated within the notches 65 and 66, whereupon theretaining tongues and 96 are bent against the switch back. The structurethus assembled 1S represented by the sectional views Figs.

2 and 4, where it will be observed that the contact support 70 isdisposed within the annular chamber 36 hereinbefore referred to and isengaged by the spring 86 which urges the contact support with itsbridging Lneilhber 75 into engagement with the switch It is obvious fromthe description that has preceded that manipulation of the key 22 willrotate the cylinder 21 within the frame 20, and that the dove-tail likeconnection of the key cylinder 21 with the contact support 70, due tothe tongues 49 and 50 mating with the notches 83 and 84, will therebydrive the contact actuator 70, and that through the tongues 73 and 74 ofthe contact 75 mating with the recesses 71 and 72 of the block 70,that'the contact? 5 will be caused to move over the switch back from thedetent provi sions to the fixed contact members, and vice versa, atwhatever the option of the person. The dove-tail provisions of the keycylinder and switch back are such that lineal motion of the backrelative to the key cylinder is permissible so as to allow the contact75 to ride over irregularities of surface of the switch back, or to moveaxially with respect to the mechanism, from the lowest point of thedetent provisions and 61 to the highest point of the contacts 62 and 63,and yet maintain the driving engagement between the key cylinder and thecontact supporting member.

WVhile the form of embodiment of the present invention as hereindisclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatother forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A lock switch comprising in combination, a lock frame in cylindricalformation providing tenons at one end thereof, a switch back having aconcentric skirt providing mortises for the reception of said tenons,and a protective shell embracing said lock frame and switch; back andprovided with means for retaining the frame and switch back in assembledrelation.

2. A switch of the class described comprising in combination, a frameproviding axially extending tongues and a central recess for receptionof circuit closing means, a switch back of cup form having engagementwith said frame tongues and completing the enclosure of said recess,and'means maintaining the frame and back in assembled relation againstunauthorized access thereto.

3. A switch of the class described, com- A prising in combination, alock frame, a switch back having inter tting engagement with one end ofsaid lock frame, said frame and back being recessed to enclose springurged circuit completing means, and a protective shell secured to theframe and maintaining the back in engagement therewith so as to form arelatively inaccessible enclosure.

4.. The combination set forth in claim 3, in which. said switch back isof cup form and provides a plurality of contact members, a contactcarrier movably guidedin said cup portion and providing a connectoradapted to engage said contacts, and driving for actuation of saidcontact carrier. j

5. A switch of the class described comprising in combination, a lockframe, a switch back having interfittingengagement with one end of saidlock frame, said switch back being axially recessed and providing aplurality of fixed contact members, contact actuatingmeans disposedwithin said axial re-. cess and guided thereby and providing acohcentric with said switch back, a lock plug carried by said frame,said contact carrier and plug having circumferential tongue and grooveengagement and each axially recessed,

and means disposed in said axial recess main taining the contact carrierin engagement with the switch back.

7. A switch comprising in combination, a lock frame, a cup member havingmating engagement therewith, preventing rotation of one relative to theother, said cup member having a pair of fixed contacts and detentpositions, a contact carrier of cup-likeform substantially fillingsaidcup and supporting a bridging member for engagement with said contacts,and means provided by the said frame for actuating said contact carrierand maintaining the same in disposition against said cup member.

. 8. A switch of the class described, comprising in combination, aframe, a terminal support mating with the frame, said terminal supporthaving a concentric skirt peripher- I ally notched to receivecomplemental portions of said frame, a contact carrier dis-' posedwithin said skirt and guided thereby, means driving the support, andmeans yieldingly urging the contact support toward the terminal support.

9. A switch of the class described, comprising in combination, a switchback of cupped form providing contacts, andoff-contact detents, amovable contact support fitted within the cup and guided thereby, saidsupport providing a contact movable into engagement with said fixedcontacts, said detents, and meansfor actuating the contact support, andmeans for yieldingly urging the contact support toward the switch back.

10. The combination comprising, a lock frame having a key cylinderaxially disposed therein, a switch back in ,nonrotative engagement withthe frame, a contact support in the chamber and maintained in engagementwith the switch back, said support havinginterl itting tongue engagementwith the key cylinder, and means engaging the switch back and framemaintaining the same ininterfitting engagement, and the support indriving relation with respect to the key cylinder.

1LA switch of the class described com-v prising in combination, a frame,a terminal support having. an axially extending flange, a contactsupport device disposed within the flange, and guided in movementthereby, said device having peripheral arc-like tongues, actuatingmechanism carried by said frame providing tongues engageable between thetongues of said contact support, and means for actuating the contactsupport.

In testimony whereof I hereto affix my sig nature.

HARRY E. NORVIEL.

